What to do if you hit a deer? These 10 Illinois counties should take notes
The State of Illinois would like to issue a friendly reminder to all drivers passing through the state that it is illegal to hunt deer with your car.
All jokes aside, deer mating season is actually upon us. The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have teamed up to help bring awareness to the threat deer make to drivers every year.
According to a release, Illinois had 14,524 deer-related crashes in 2022. There were 13,892 resulting in damage to property or vehicles, 629 included injuries and four were fatal accidents.
McDonald's Halloween buckets: Boo Buckets are back! How to get Happy Meal baskets starting Oct. 17
More than 40% of Illinois' deer-related crashes took place over the last three months of 2022 with November being the riskiest month overall, the release states. As expected, more than 70% of deer-related crashes were in rural areas, especially during twilight or nighttime hours.
10 worst Illinois counties for car crashes involving deer
Here are the top 10 Illinois counties for crashes involving deer in 2022, according to the release:
Cook County: 542
Madison County: 396
McHenry County: 351
Lake County: 350
Will County: 344
Peoria County: 323
Fulton County: 313
Kane County: 286
Sangamon County: 282
Macoupin County: 271
“While your natural instinct is to steer quickly out of the way when you see a deer, remember to not veer suddenly because you could lose control of your vehicle and swerve into another lane or off the road,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said.
“Always prepare for the unexpected. A deer might stop in the middle of the road or double back. They also frequently travel in groups so when you see one there likely are others nearby.”
What to do when you hit a deer
Here's what you should do if you hit a deer, according to the State of Illinois' release:
Pull off to the shoulder.
Turn on your hazard lights.
Call 911.
Do not exit the vehicle to check on an injured deer.
Do not attempt to pull the deer from the road.
5 driving safety tips during deer-mating season
Here are five safe driving tips to apply during deer-mating season, according to the release:
Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with deer crossing signs.
Scan the sides of the road for eye shine — the reflection of headlights in their eyes.
Slow down if you see a deer and anticipate others could be following.
Prepare for the unexpected. Deer may stop in the middle of the road and not move for oncoming vehicles.
If a collision is inevitable, don’t veer. Try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic or off the road.
“Deer are a part of the Illinois landscape, and drivers should be mindful of their presence,” Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said.
“Drive cautiously this time of year, especially at dawn and dusk, when deer are particularly active for the fall mating season.”
For information on how to claim a deer involved in a crash or to report possession of a deer killed in a crash, check out Illinois' "Claim a Road Kill" webpage or visit dnr.illinois.gov.
Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois car accidents: 10 worst counties during deer mating season
